Rotary injector compressor



Oct. 3, 1950 E, RH RTM 2,524,703

ROTARY INJECTOR COMPRESSOR Filed Jan. 6, 1948 INVENTOR.

fawn/e0 7?. Hnzmm Patented )ct. 3, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,524,703 ROTARY INJECTOR COMPRESSOR Edward R. Hartman, Barberton, Ohio Application January 6, 1948, Serial N o. 663

4: Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rotary injector compressors.

More particularly, the invention relates to a gas (or vapor) compressor using the velocity of a liquid to carry the gas or vapor into a tank. An arrangement is proposed whereby the gas or vapor is compressed as it is forced into the tank by the kinetic energy of the liquid stream.

- More specifically, the invention proposes a relatively short pipe system and a centrifugal pump for circulating a liquid at high velocity through the pipe system. It is an object of this invention to arrange the pipe system so as to extend from a front point exterior of a tank for collecting and storing the compressed gases through and out of said tank. It is proposed that the pipe system include a liquid nozzle and a gas intake nozzle located at said front point exterior of said tank and cooperative with each other for drawing in and compressing gases into said pipe-system. It is an important object of this invention to provide the pipe system with a centrifuge within the tank and to the back of said front point for centrifugally separating and releasing into the tank said compressed gases from the liquid in said pipe system.

Another object of this invention is to arrange the pipe system in an endless fashion so that the same liquid may circulate around and around durin the operation of the compressor. With this arrangement the power required for compressing gases is relatively small since the liquid is at all times circulating at a high speed and power is merely required to overcome frictional and other loses and for the work necessary in compressing the gases.

The invention also proposes simple means for replacing liquid which may be lost from the endless pipe system.

It is also proposed to provide means for cooling the compressed gases.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

xFor further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

-'In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a rotary injector compressor constructed in accordance with this invention, certain parts being broken away to disclose interior parts.

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

The new rotary injector compressor, in accordance with this invention, includes a tank 55 for storing compressed gases and a pipe system H associated with the tank H) in a certain way. Means is provided for circulating a liquid at high velocity through said pipe system H. Preferably,'this means comprises a driven centrifugal pump l2. The pipe system H extends from a front point I l exterior of said tank Ill through and out of said tank to a back point ii". The pipe system H includes a liquid nozzle 14 connected with the discharge of the centrifugal pump l2 and cooperative with a gas intake nozzle l5. These nozzles I l and I5 are located at said front point ll exterior of the tank 5%. The nozzles l4 and 15 are cooperative with each other for drawing in and compressing gases into said pipe system I l.

The pipe system H also includesa centrifuge [6 within the tank it] andto the back of said front point H for centrifugally separating and releasing-into said tank if! said compressed gases from the pipe system. 'This centrifuge !5 comprises merely an annular-like pipe portion having a slot ll or other opening or openings eX- tended along a portion of its inside diameter. Theslot ll extends from a point l8 in'the vicinity of a horizontal plane through the center of curvature of the centrifuge IE to a point 19 at the bottom of the centrifuge it. The liquid passing through the centrifuge [5 will be thrown outwards by centrifugal force causing the air to separate. The air will escape out through the slot l1 and into the tank I. The pipe system H is endless because the back point I! is connected with the intake of the plllnp !2, while the nozzle i4 is connected with the discharge of said pump.

The tank Ill is provided with a discharge pipe 20 for connection with a utilizer of the compressed gases. This discharge pipe 20 is provided with a trap 2| for condensing and collecting liquid which may be escaping through the discharge pipe 20. The trap 2! is provided with coolin means 22 for condensing the liquid vapors in the gases. A tube 23 extends from the trap 2| into the tank if! for discharging the condensate back into the tank If]. The tank It is provided, near its bottom, with a liquid sup: ply pipe' 24 which is controlled by a valve 25 con trolled by a float 29 so as to maintain liquid 21 3.3 in the bottom of the tank It at a level, as illustrated in the drawing. The condensate return pipe 23 extends into the liquid 21. A tube 28 connects with the pipe system H back of the point I9 and extends into the liquid 21 so that the pump l2 may draw needed liquid into the pipe system H. Preferably, the pipe system H in back of the point l9, particularly, at the point 29, contracts slightly in diameter since past this point the pipe system contains only liquid and therefore it need not be so large in cross section as before the point 19 where it contains liquid and gases. mounted upon the pipe system I l for cooling the compressed gases.

A' typical cycle of operation of the new rotary injector compressor may be understood from the following: 7

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the mixture of gases being compressed is atmospheric air and the liquid used in the system may be Water. The centrifugal pump l2 rapidly circulates the water through the pipe system i I. The water emerging from the nozzle It at a high velocity draws in atmospheric air through the nozzle and into the pipe system II. The drawn in air is compressed and cooled as it passes the cooling means 30. The compressed air and water are separated by centrifugal force as they pass through the centrifuge l6. The water being heavier than the air is thrown to the outer circumference of the centrifuge l6 and the air is forced from the centrifuge through the slot ll into the tank Iii. The stream of water continues at a high velocity to the inlet of the centrifugal pump l2 because of its velocity and pressure energy. The velocity of the water is increased by the pump I2 and the cycle of operation repeats.

Any water escaping from the pipe system H with the compressed air through the discharge pipe 2 0 is condensed and discharged into the bottom of the tank Hi and re-enters the pipe system H through the small tube 28. Any water permanently lost from the circulating system is replenished by the float controlled valve opening the water supply 2G for maintaining the level of the reserve water 21 in the tank H]. The kinetic energy of the water stream emerging from the pump 12 is approximately equal to the energy required to compress the air, plus the frictional losses in the pipe system I l and pump l2, plus the kinetic energy and pressure energy of the water entering the pump [2.

The overall efficiency of the pump I2 is high because it does not have the divergent nozzles which are required to convert velocity energy into pressure energy in the ordinary centrifugal pump. The air is compressed approximately isothermally so that the heat of compression is relatively low. The pipe system H has a very smooth interior to minimize friction losses. Therefore the combined elements of this compressor make the compressor highly efiicient and there are no reciprocating parts.

One use for this rotary injector compressor would be to supply air at constant pressure to a prime mover to operate on the Joule cycle for heat engines.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as delined in the appended claims.

Cooling means is Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary injector compressor, a closed tank for storing compressed gases, a pipe for a mixture of liquid and gases extending into and out of said tank and having a centrifuge portion for centrifugally separating and releasing into said tank said gases from said mixture of said liquid and gases, a gas intake nozzle on one end of said pipe, a nozzle for liquid discharging through said ga intake nozzle into said pipe, and a centrifugal pump having its intake connected with the end of said pipe which is remote from said gas intake nozzle and having its output connected with said nozzle for liquid in order that when said compressor operates said 'liquid will circulate at a high speed through said centrifuge portion of said pipe.

2. In a rotary injector compressor, a closed tank for storing compressed gases, a pipe for a mixture of liquid and gases extending into and out of said tank and having a centrifuge portion for centrifugally separating and releasing into said tank said gases from said mixture of said liquid and gases, a gas intake nozzle on one end of said pipe, a nozzle for liquid discharging through said gas intake nozzle into said pipe, and a centrifugal pump having its intake connected with the end of said pipe which is remote from said gas intake nozzle and having its output connected with said nozzle for liquid in order that when said compressor operates said liquid will circulate at a high speed through said centrifuge portion of said pipe, that portion of said pipe between said centrifuge and said pump being slightly smaller in diameter than that portion of said pipe between said gas intake nozzle and said centrifuge in order to streamline the flow of said liquid and conserve its kinetic energy.

3. In a rotary injector compressor, a closed tank for storing compressed gases, a pipe for a mixture of liquid and gases extending into and out of said tank and having a centrifuge portion for centrifugally separating and releasing into said tank said gases from said mixture of said liquid and gases, a gas intake nozzle on one end of said pipe, a nozzle for liquid discharging through said gas intake nozzle into said pipe, and a centrifugal pump having its intake connected with the end of said pipe which is remote from said gas intake nozzle and having its output connected with said nozzle for liquid in order that when said compressor operates said liquid will circulate at a high speed through said centrifuge portion of said pipe, that portion of said pipe between said centrifuge and said pump being slightly smaller in diameter than that portion of said pipe betwen said gas intake nozzle and said centrifuge in order to streamline the flow of said liquid and conserve its kinetic energy, means for maintaining a supply of water in the bottom portion of said tank at an elevation below said centrifuge portion, and a water supply tube connected with said smaller diameter portion of said pipe immediately adjacent said centrifuge and extending downwards into said supply of water in said tank in order to maintain the liquid supply in said pipe for maintaining its kinetic energy.

4. In a rotary injector compressor, a closed 4 tank for storing compressed gases, a pipe for a mixture of liquid and gases extending into and out of said tank and having a centrifuge p02:-

5 6 tion for centrifugally separating and releasing downwards into said supply of water in said tank into said tank said gases from said mixture of in order to maintain the liquid supply in said said liquid and gases, a gas intake nozzle on one pipe for maintaining its kinetic energy. end of said pipe, a nozzle for liquid discharging EDWARD R. HARTMAN. through said gas intake nozzle into said pipe, 5 and a centrifugal pump having its intake con- REFERENCES CITED nected h the end of Said pipe which i The following references are of record in the mote from said gas intake nozzle and having its fil f this patent;

output connected with said nozzle for liquid in order that when said compressor operates said m UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 liquid will circulate at a high speed through said mber Name Date centrifuge portion of said pipe, means for main- 899,820 Abbott Sept. 29, 1908 taming a supply of water in the bottom portion 900,814 Wilson Oct. 13, 1908 of said tank at an elevation below said centrifuge 1,273,900 Miller July 30, 1918 portion, and a water supply tube connected with 15 1,662,250 Jennings Mar. 13, 1928 said pipe at a point between said centrifuge por- 1,799,684 Gilbert Apr. '7, 1931 tion and the intake of said pump and extending 2,119,201 Cook 1 May 31, 1938 

